Phosphorus Supply May Dictate Food Security Prospects in India

Importance of phosphorus (P) in agriculture and how its availability or otherwise could influence the food security of India and the world is studied. Rock phosphate (RP) is the only economic source of P but its availability is finite and skewed. India has very limited known resource of RP which is mostly low to medium grade in quality, thus making it almost entirely dependent on imports. The low soil P fertility in large parts of the country has accentuated the problem and reinforced the importance of most scientific and judicious use of P. A large number of practical measures such as using low grade indigenous RPs, mobilization of P from RPs, some best agronomic practices to effectively and economically utilize RPs and P recovery from solid and liquid wastes are suggested in the article along with some researchable issues. These if implemented could reduce the reliance on P import as well as provide food and nutritional security.